Dynamo President Chris Canetti speaks to dignitaries and guest during the Houston Dynamo and BBVA Compass Stadium ribbon-cutting ceremony on Tuesday, May 1, 2012, in Houston.

Dynamo President Chris Canetti speaks to dignitaries and guest during the Houston Dynamo and BBVA Compass Stadium ribbon-cutting ceremony on Tuesday, May 1, 2012, in Houston.

Photo: Mayra Beltran, Houston Chronicle

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Chris Canetti, Dynamo COO

Chris Canetti, Dynamo COO

Photo: Handout

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Soccer notebook: Dynamo's Canetti on Houston Amateur Sports Park

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It has been a little more than a year since the Dynamo opened Houston Amateur Sports Park on July 5, 2011.

Until last year, the two-time MLS Cup champions and three-time finalists never had their own training field. Since the Dynamo began training at HASP, they have their own practice field and a turf field, which the team used for exhibition matches on rainy days this preseason. There are five other fields at the complex. The Dynamo estimate there have been more than 100,000 visitors to HASP fields this year.

Dynamo president Chris Canetti discussed the importance of the complex to the Dynamo:

Q: What has been the biggest benefit of HASP to the Dynamo and, in your opinion, the community?

Canetti: For the Dynamo, we have had a top-rate field for our first team to train on and an excellent complex for our academy to centralize its operations. We have also been able to schedule a number of grass-roots soccer programs there. For the community, it has given several groups and thousands of people the opportunity to participate in various sporting events and leagues on the best fields in the area.

Q: What are some of the highlight events at HASP, and what are some upcoming events that can be considered marquee events?

Canetti: The biggest event was the United States Soccer Federation's Academy finals, a national tournament among the best soccer club teams in North America. While big events are nice, we are proud that a variety of sports like soccer, football, rugby, lacrosse, and ultimate Frisbee have made the park their regular home for practices, games and tournaments.

Q: Is there room for growth at the facility, and can you see the team or community investing to build more fields there?

Canetti: Yes; there is room for growth, and there is a master plan that includes future development. It includes adding infrastructure, such as scoreboards, bleachers, concessions and bathrooms. It also includes expanding the number of fields.

Q: With the potential of a transfer fee if Geoff Cameron's Stoke City deal goes through, does MLS require some of those fees go into facilities. And if so, do you envision that money being spent at HASP?

Canetti: Any potential transfer fees will be reinvested into players and or player development.

Q: What's the next big step? What kind of feedback did you get from U.S. Soccer?

Canetti: We are close to having a permanent state-of-the-art facility completed. This is the next big step. It will include the Dynamo locker room, the Competitive Edge Sports Training Center for elite athletes, and the Methodist Center for Sports Medicine. It will be on par with many top-class international soccer clubs' facilities. U.S. Soccer was very pleased with the results of their tournament, and we hope they will bring the event to Houston again soon. Potentially, we'd like HASP to serve as a long-term, annual home for the tournament.